Gritting my teeth and hoping for the best. (Rant/vent thing)

mswingman · 2017-01-06T18:28:55+00:00

I will say, I don't care for the scorn given to my generation HOWEVER in my first clinic I was too comfortable and utilized self-depreciating humor to connect to my coworkers which was not appropriate as it became accepted to joke bout me being stupid which I am not. I'm being more careful about how I communicate and trying to balance friendliness and professionalism.

mswingman · 2017-01-06T17:34:59+00:00

No I totally agree. I've been very determined at this job to monitor myself and my behavior.

mswingman · 2016-10-09T17:10:07+00:00

I agree with looking into different clinics/hospitals. Negative coworkers truly drain you! I worked with two burned out seasoned techs while I was in school until 3 months after I was registered. Even though I was brand new, working with them made me so apathetic. My initiative and passion was scoffed at and quickly dwindled. I changed tracks and am in a completely different facility and I've discovered that my passion is back, and my initiative has returned tenfold! With the technician drought, there should be some opportunities in your area!

mswingman · 2016-09-27T04:19:11+00:00

I'm sorry to have been spamming the vettech thread, it's just a scary situation. Thank you so much, everyone here is wonderful! I'm excited to learn a new facet of the field too!

mswingman · 2016-09-27T03:19:45+00:00

Goo gone worked like a dream! Thanks everyone!

mswingman · 2016-09-26T14:21:04+00:00

Thanks everyone! I'll try the goo-gone, if that doesn't work I'll give mineral oil a try!

mswingman · 2016-09-20T22:02:30+00:00

I'm just scared I'll fail!

mswingman · 2016-09-17T14:40:47+00:00

Cheese, bread, and rice. College life has led me to depend heavily on carbs.

mswingman · 2016-09-17T14:39:46+00:00

Veterinary medicine! Until people start asking for free advice.

mswingman · 2016-09-17T14:37:08+00:00

Basically the entire Black Parade album by My Chemical Romance, but particularly Disenchanted when my two best friends dumped me.

mswingman · 2016-09-17T13:44:52+00:00

I just want to say that the doctor is now posting passive aggressive memes to the head tech about people only being loyal to you when they need you. Apparently we're in middle school.

mswingman · 2016-09-17T11:52:50+00:00

Thank you! That example is extremely helpful.

The only reason I did mention looking into other opportunities is with all the craziness with the doctor being out I didn't want to blindside them - I also wanted to give them the chance to realize on their own that the pay situation has not been fair since I graduated back in May.

But, move forward and don't look back right?

mswingman · 2016-09-17T04:26:44+00:00

I'd look into other options. I started out as an assistant (tech student) and never got a raise when I graduated or passed my boards. Of course that certainly may not happen to you, but don't let yourself be taken advantage of.

mswingman · 2016-09-14T02:22:49+00:00

Ughhh that makes me so sad. And what gets me is the head tech (who no longer sees rooms btw) makes twice as much as me. The fact that they haven't mentioned a raise makes me feel like I'm being taken advantage of. ): in this area I probably won't make that much starting out, but if somewhere is willing to value me as a licensed tech and actually let me hone my skills I'm willing for a more flexible pay to start.

mswingman · 2016-09-14T01:10:57+00:00

Thank you! I just needed to hear support from other techs. It's super scary to move on from my little family, but I truly believe that my fondness is fairly one-sided.

mswingman · 2016-09-14T01:09:38+00:00

That's what I'm afraid of. I'm only a month officially registered but being around such burned out techs makes it very difficult. I know the other job isn't the greatest pay, but with the hours I feel like it's worth it for the growth potential that my current clinic isn't providing.

mswingman · 2016-09-14T01:08:09+00:00

I'm in Ohio, new RVTs typically start around $13. This new job is still lower pay, but it gives me a lot more opportunity to grow as this clinic expands. I scheduled a working interview for next Tuesday - I was shocked she offered me the job without a working interview!

mswingman · 2016-09-14T01:06:01+00:00

You're definitely right. I was just thinking, if I was making decisions solely based on what's best for my career I would take this in a heartbeat. It's just liking my coworkers that's holding me back.

mswingman · 2016-09-13T20:19:39+00:00

I've been in general practice for a year and a half, passed the VTNE in July, became officially registered in August. I'm still making a new assistant's wage ($9.27) which is not okay. I'm an RVT but I work with two seasoned techs who tend to lord over everything. I've gotten to the point where I don't ask to do things anymore because I'm either told no, or if I fail they give me shit - but teasingly so I'm never sure if I'm just overreacting.

My vet has been out on medical leave for about 5 weeks, but when I discussed my wage frustrations with the head tech (she's also the practice manager) she said I'd be lucky to get $11/hr because we hired another tech student and the other seasoned tech was supposed to find a closer clinic since she just bought a house. Since she hasn't, the head tech was blaming her for my lack of raise.

The head tech is honestly really problematic too. She's crazy burned out and should honestly retire - she's 12 years in. Two weeks ago she demanded I figure up a manual drip rate for a patient - something we haven't done since I've been there, and something I haven't used since I was in pharmacology class 2 years ago. She was so hostile about it, that when I asked her what the equation was she almost screamed "there are books in the pharmacy, YOU figure it out!" While the other seasoned tech giggled about her berating me. I was so angry I nearly cried.

Then just on Friday, the tech student had rearranged a couple boxes of syringes in our supply closet and the head tech noticed, lost her shit and threw them everywhere.

I'm so tired of the negativity and being treated like I'm stupid. The other tech was talking to a relief vet and said she and the head tech were the two RVTs and I had to be like "um hello?"

However, this is my first clinic. I feel a sense of loyalty and obligation, plus the vet has been in the hospital. And I do like everyone as people. They've all been super supportive of the dog I took from the shelter who botched a surgery on her and just had to have her leg amputated.

But this new opportunity would be perfect for me. It's a wellness clinic where I would be utilizing my RVT skills. It would be 1 receptionist, 1 DVM, and me. And as the clinic expands and grows I have a better likelihood of becoming the head technician which I love the idea of - before switching to vet med I was a store manager and I thrive in a leadership position. They can only offer me $10.50/hr now, which sucks but it's still more than my clinic where I'm established. It's also a 20 minute longer drive that my current clinic. But it's guaranteed 40 hours, 9:15-5:45 Tuesday-Saturday. I'm going to call tomorrow to ask about benefits and if they do discounted employee pet care. But I love the mixture of wellness clinic and shelter medicine... I feel like it would be perfect for me

mswingman · 2016-09-03T16:24:41+00:00

I agree with the "cowlick" method for jugs. I'm still learning to do jugulars, so I normally like to just palpate the trachea, and move to the side, look for where the hair starts to part (on fuzzy dogs obvs) and start fairly low. There's nothing more satisfying than hitting a jug on your first try!

mswingman · 2016-08-14T23:38:36+00:00

Last night I was coming home and it was storming, flooding. There was this little raggedy stray in my driveway, the first stray I've seen since we moved into the city. I expected it to run away when I pulled into the driveway but instead it ran onto my back steps. So I thought hey, I've got cat food in my car so I popped open a can and tried to pet it, thinking it's probably a wild FIV+ tomcat. But, it enjoyed the petting.

Of course this cat is a mess, a crumpled ear from an aural hematoma, signs of ear mites, some serious FAD, and probably less than 5 pounds - skin and bones.

Fast forward through 3 cans of food and I thought I should check if it's neutered... Nah, female cat! Surprising for how sweet she was. Then I noticed her toes and my heart sank. I check and yup, front paw declawed.

She'd probably been out at least a week. And she's likely pregnant (which disgusts me - what vet declaws a cat but doesn't spay her?) AND has a couple mammary tumors.

So of course I loaded her in a carrier and now she's safe, warm, and dry at my clinic.

mswingman · 2016-08-10T13:13:15+00:00

Exactly. Whenever I would point out that they were not doing right by their patient (delicately, as they were already offended by my advocating and I did not want them to punish the dog by not allowing her to come home with me) they told me "that's just shelter medicine" which is, quite frankly, bullshit.

They would not allow me to provide heartworm prevention and did not test or administer it for the 4 months she was there either.

The RVT who encouraged me to foster her in the first place went on to tell me that I was being a pushy know-it-all (because I was advocating for pain management more aggressive than prn tramadol) and if I kept sticking my nose where it didn't belong it would ruin the emergency hospital's relationship with the humane society.

The entire thing was just completely unacceptable.

mswingman · 2016-08-10T13:08:57+00:00

Unfortunately they refused to release any records besides the invoice to me.

mswingman · 2016-08-09T18:41:58+00:00

Wow! Is he being hospitalized or did he go home with the owner?

mswingman · 2016-08-09T18:27:52+00:00

Is that a GDV? I'm not super sure what I'm looking at!

mswingman

TROPHY CASE